Ujjain tours with Optima Travels offer opportunity to explore rich cultural heritage and delve into rich legacy of Ujjain. Tradition endows the city with 3000 years of prehistoric glory. It is the beloved city of the poet Kalidas who sang of its golden spires, learned Brahmans and beautiful women. But even within historic times it has played a decisive part as the capital of Malwa. It was the seat of Asoka’s viceroyalty. Aurangzeb and his brother Dara Shikoh fought in its neighbourhood in 1658 AD. It was taken by Holkar in 1792 AD. It remained the capital of Scindia till 1810 AD when Daulat Rao Scindia removed his residence to Gwalior.
During Ujjain tour, a tourist may visit historical and religious monuments. Ujjain has been the Greenwich of India from time immemorial. It was here too that Sri Krishna and his brother Balaram learnt their first lessons in astronomy in Sandipani Ashram. The present observatory (Jantar Mantar) was built by Maharaja Jai Singh.
Mahakaleshwar Temple happens to be the most coveted attraction of Ujjain pilgrimage tour. The famous temple of Mahakal in Ujjain is one of the most important centers of Shaivite worship. In 1285 AD, it was wrecked by Altamish, who carried off to his capital the famous gem-studded idol of Mahakal from which, according to Shaivite belief, the world was re-stocked after the flood with human, animal and plant life. The temple now standing was rebuilt on its ancient site by Ramachandra, Diwan of the Peshwa, 500 years later. Pilgrims to the shrine of Mahakal make it a point to have a dip in the sacred River Kshipra at the Ram Ghat. The water is kept pure. Every effort is made to preserve the sacred water from pollution.
A beautiful feature of Ujjain and its neighbourhood is the sanctity attached to birds and beasts, and fish and all living creatures. River Kshipra, now-a-days almost dried out, used to be a safe reservoir of marine lives. In the past, the fish and the turtles of the River Kshipra had been under the special protection of successive Buddhist, Jain and Hindu dynasties. In consequence, the banks of the Kshipra were haunted by wild peacocks and many other birds, and the waters of the river here probably used to show more turtles to the square yard than might be found anywhere else in the world.
Ujjain is also sacred to the memory of Shri Vallabhacharya, the great Vaishnava saint & reformer, who took up his abode under a Pipal tree on the banks of the Kshipra which is still said to exist and designated as his ‘baithak’ or station. Bhartrihari Caves, Kaliadeh Palace, Kal Bhairav Temple, Harsiddhi Temple etc are some of the prominent tourist attractions in Ujjain to visit while perusing various Ujjain holiday packages. Millions of tourists congregate to participate in Kumbh Mela in Ujjain.
Ujjain, though maintains its old-world charm, but rightfully boasts of modern infrastructure and civic amenities. All variety of accommodation facilities, good connectivity by road, rail and air; and, above all, friendly and cultured residents of the city make Ujjain trip a pleasant experience.